Hayuk painted the massive piece on the Bowery Mural wall near Houston Street earlier this year (14), and Bareilles later posed for photographs and shot footage in front of the art, which was used to promote her album The Blessed Unrest and subsequent Little Black Dress tour.

Hayuk's lawyer, Aaron Silverstein tells the New York Daily News that his client is very "protective" of her work, since "her art is her only source of income," adding, "When her work gets appropriated without her permission, it's painful."

Hayuk is not only suing Bareilles, but bosses at her label Sony Music, as well as executives at fashion brand Coach, as they allegedly used the same mural as the backdrop in online advertisements for their apparel and handbags.

The artist is seeking at least $150,000 (£88,000) in damages in each lawsuit.

Representatives for Bareilles, Sony, and Coach declined to comment due to the pending litigation. The mural in question has since been taken down, as it was meant to be a temporary piece on the rotating Bowery wall.